BOISE, Idaho — After a decade of being in temporary space, a local dance and arts nonprofit has found a permanent home in Garden City.
Lauren Edson grew up in Boise and has danced since she was three-years-old, she told KTVB. She went off to New York to study at Julliard. She returned to Idaho to dance for the Trey McIntyre Project.
After finishing the Trey McIntyre Project, LED was created and founded by Edson, and her husband Andrew Stensaas.
LED is approaching their 10th anniversary. The nonprofit has been in a space on Grove Street and 15th in Boise for the last five years.
Edson described LED, as a "multimedia performing arts group." They combine dance, music, and film into a non-traditional experience.
"Sometimes they're in a theater, sometimes they're on the street, sometimes they're collaborating with a restaurant," Edson said.
Wednesday, LED broke ground on a $2 million project at their new permeant home. The nonprofit has signed a 20-year lease at the old Dixon Container store at 3300 W. Chinden Boulevard.
Right now, it doesn't look like much more than an empty building, but LED plans to give it some rhythm.
The nonprofit has raised a total of $800,000 out of its $2 million goal through private donors, and other foundations, according to Mallory Walker, the managing director of LED told KTVB. This has allowed them to begin the project.
LED hopes to raise the rest of the funds through public donations to complete the project, Walker said.
After renovations of the 6,658 square-foot building, it will be more than just a studio, Edson said.
It will have space for rehearsals and gathering. As well as a theatre that can fit 150 people for performances and shows.
"This will become an anchor in this community," Edson said, "we have a community that loves what we do, and I think is hungry for something that's different."
This space is larger than where LED previously was. The more space available in the new location, Edson said helps support their mission better.
"We had a space on Grove Street, Grove and 15th for the last five years, and we loved that little studio," Edson said. "But I think that it feels like the natural evolution at this point is for us to have a place that we can really build every aspect of the work and be also a resource to artists."
Edson said this will be a one-of-a-kind space.
"There isn't a space like this that exists, there isn't a venue like this that exists, and we really believe that it's going to be a huge asset," she added.
This new space will be a piece of the fastest growing areas within Garden City.
"The area that it's located in here really has developed over the last seven, eight, nine years into a center where there's arts and of course, we've got our wineries and breweries that have flourished down here," Mayor John Evans told KTVB at the groundbreaking event.
LED is ready to jump into that mix.
"Not everything has to be a gut wrenching, serious experience that we live every day," Mayor Evans said. "We need an outlet for venues like this... just to come and have a good time and relax and watch people that love what they do."
LED is excited to offer more to the community soon.
"I think it's a reminder of the sanctity of art and artists, that there's immense value in the act of sharing art, and this becomes a house for that and a reminder of how important it is," Edson said.